Envelope-sealing device for postage meters



Feb. 26 1924.

A. H. PlTNEY ENVELOPE SEALING DEVICE FOR POSTAGE METERS Filed Oct. 12 1922 Patented Feba 26, 192- 1.,

rates earner tea.

ARTHUR H. PITNEY, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO POSTAGE METERS &

MACHINES COMPANY, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF DELA- WARE.

ENVELOPE-SEALING DEVICE FOR POSTAGE METERS.

Application filed October 12, 1922. Serial No. 594,153.

To all whom it may concern. I

Be it known that I, ARTHUR H. PITNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stamford, in the county of Fairtield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelope- Sealing Devices for Postage Meters; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof,'reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention is a novel improvement in machines for sealing and stamping envelopes and has particular reference to postage metcr, machines such as shown and described in my Patent #1,370,668 dated March 8, 11921, and Wheelers Patent $21,410,859, dated March 28, 1922. In said patented mechanisms the envelopes are automatically fed from a. pile on a feed table to devices whereby the flaps are opened, moistened, and sealed, and then passed on through suitable stamping, post marking, canceling, and metering devices, such as shown in the above mentioned Patents #137 0,668 and 1,410,859.

The principal object of the present invention is to enable 'the sealing mechanism to be adjusted to suit different sizes or heights of envelopes without having to alter the position of any of the parts of the mech anism as such mechanism adjustedto seal envelopes of one size might not properly seal 7 envelopes of another size, but with my present invention the moistenin which protection is desired, are summarized.

The accompanying drawing represents a front elevation of part of the sealing mechanism'of a postage meter machine with one practical form of my present invention applied thereto.

In the postage meter machine above referred to, the envelopes to be sealed are placed edgewise on a feed table 1, parallel suitable means, brush moistener 50.

. Attached to the casting 25 is a guide plate 52 which isadapted to guide the horizontally extended flaps of -the envelopes, fed forward by the belt 8 to and over the moistener 50.

Above the guide plate 52 is a plate 5-l which covers the fountain and preferabl is hinged to the casting 25 in order to yiel to the different thicknesses of various quantities of envelopes, the flaps of which are intended to pass beneath plate54, the weight of which tends to press the flaps against the moistener 50 as the envelopes move forward by contact with the feed rollers 7 and 8. Also mounted on the casting 25 to the rearside of the plate 54 is a plate 58 which extends from a point adjacent the fountain beyond rollers 9 and 13 to a point adjacent the rollers 10 and 14, and the projecting portion 58 of plate 58 is curved downward, as indicated, so that it will fold the flap of the envelope, against the body of the envelope after said flap has passed the moistener 50 and the presser bar 19, so that the envelope will be properly sealed by the rollers 9, 10, 13, and 14, when it pases therebetween. The forward edge 51? of the plate 54 is preferably curled upward as shown so that the flaps of the envelope (passing along the wall 6 and guided into horizontal position by the plate 52) will readily pass under the plate 54 and over the moistener 50. The part 58 is so curved as to cause the flap to properly fold down before the envelope 'reaehesthe rollers 10 and 14.

correspond in construction and operation to the parts shown in my Patent #1370568, and WVheeler Patent #1,410,859, but may be of any other suitable construction.

In order to seal different sizes of envelopes it is necessary to raise or lower the member 25 with all the parts mounted thereon. Heretofore, this adjustment has been accomplished by means of a rack and pinion, and a clamping screw, but this was found to be inconvenient and slow on account of having to find the proper height each time a change was made. i

The present invention enables the adjustment to be made quickly and without the use of any gearing and retaining clamp.

The novel attachment as shown comprises a base 1", a hand operated lever 2*, and a sector 3*. The base l is fastened by screws both to the main table 90 and the feed table 1, of the sealing machine. v

The sector 3 is rigidly fastened to the base 1". On its outer edge are cut a series of ratchet teeth 3 which are numbered at in-' tervals for convenience in locating the desired position of the hand lever 2", The lever 2 is pivoted at l to the base 1" at a point coinciding with the center of the sector 3*. The lower end of lever 2 is provided with a toe piece 2 which may be integral therewith or fastened thereto by screws 2.

A thumb latch or dog 4 is pivotedat 2 to lever 2*, and is adapted to engage the teeth 3 of the sector 3". A spring 4 inserted between dog 4* and the hand lever 2 normally forces the tooth of dog 4* into engagement with the ratchet teeth 3*.

The operationis as follows:

One of the supporting rods 29 of the sealer 25 rests directly on the toe piece 2 of lever 2", consequently if the outer end of lever 2 is moved downward, the sealer willbe raised. The dog 4* under pressure of spring 4 will engage the ratchet teeth 3 of sector 3", and prevent the lever 2 from returning under the weight of the sealer 25, and thus hold the sealer raised or adjusted to the desired height.

\Vhen it is desired to lower the sealer, pressure of the thumb on the dog 4* will disengage it from the ratchet teeth 3, and lever 2* may then be moved in the reverse direction and lower the sealer as desired.

The lever 2 may beheld fast at any position on the are of the sector 3", and when the proper heights for sealing a certain size enve ope is determined note may be taken of the number of the ratchet teeth whichthe dog 4* then engages. And reengaging the dog 4 with such ratchet tooth will insure correct andquick resetting of the sealer for that size of envelope at any time.

lVhat I claim is:

1. -In combination with envelope sealing devices of the character specified; a pivoted lever for raising and lowering said sealing devices, and means for securing the lever in adjustedposition to hold the sealing de-- vices in any vertically adjusted position.

2. In combination with mechanism for 1 lever for raising and lowering said sealing devices, a segment beside the lever, and

means for securing the lever to the segment to hold the sealing mechanism in any ver-' tically adjusted position.

4. In combination with mechanism for moistening and sealing envelopes, and a vertically movable support therefor; of la pivoted lever having one end engaged with j said support, a segment adjacent the free end of the lever, and means on the lever engaging said segment to hold the support in any vertically adjustedposition.

5. In envelope sealing mechanism of the character specified having flap folding, moistening and sealing devices; and a vertically adjustable support carrying said devices; a lever for raising and lowering said support a segment beside the lever, and a device on the lever adapted to engage the. segment to hold the support in any vertically adjusted position.

6. In combination with means for moistening and sealing envelopes, and avertically movable support therefor; of an oscillating lever pivoted adjacent the support and having one end engaged with said sup-' 

